tidings - First Presbyterian Church

April 211
First Presbyterian Church, Baldwinsville, NY
handicap accessible buildings
TIDINGS
The Rev. Stuart D. Hayes, Pastor
9am-12n & 1-4 pm M-F
phone: 315-635-9964
Nursery School 315-635-7391
email: presbvill@a-znet.com
fax:
315-638-4792
published in the Church Office (LARGE PRINT copies available) editor, N. Landon
from
website:
www.presbvill.com
10:00 am Sunday worship
the Pastor’s Pen . . .
I write this article on March 23rd (yes, I’m late for Tidings’ deadline). That means that, as I
write this, I’m aware that the scripture at the heart of our last worship was the story of Nicodemus
(John 3:1-17), while the one on which our worship will focus next is the story of the Samaritan
woman at the well (John 4: 5-42). I’m also aware that these stories have some interesting things in
common. Each presents a character in a lengthy conversation with Jesus. In each case the topic of
that conversation is the Spirit. Finally, each uses a metaphor taken from everyday experience to talk
about that which is beyond our everyday power to describe or even comprehend.
For Nicodemus the Spirit is like the wind. And, if you’ll allow me to play with
that metaphor: sometimes the wind gently cools and caresses; other times it forces us to
“hold on to our hats;” and, finally, there are times when it threatens to uproot that on
which we lean or depend. For the Samaritan woman, however, the Spirit is like water:
sometimes a reliable spring whose life-giving current cannot be suppressed; sometimes
an underground (and unnoticed?) stream which nurtures growth and productivity even
in times of drought; and, at still other times, a well whose waters satisfy the deepest
possible thirst.
I hear both of these metaphors suggesting that God’s Spirit, like air and water, is absolutely
necessary, but, finally, beyond our power to control or command. Nevertheless, there are differences
in these metaphors and, in particular, in the imaginings which they can trigger. I mean, if someone
were to say to you that God’s Spirit - or God’s activity in our lives - is like the wind, what does that
say to you? What does it lead you to think about? On the other hand, if someone else says that,
according to her experience, God’s activity in our lives is like refreshing water that flows from a deep
well, where does your mind go in response? Doesn’t it “go” in different directions than it did when
you heard about wind?
There is no reason to suspect that it ever actually happened, but I find myself
wondering what would have happened if, 2000 years ago, Nicodemus and the Samaritan
woman met and began to compare notes on their respective conversations with Jesus.
How would Nicodemus have responded to the woman insisting that the Spirit is like water? What
would she have said after hearing him say that God is like the wind?
I’d like to think that each credited the other with enabling new insights and understandings, and
then confessing: “Gee, I never thought of that! Thanks.” I’d also like to think of this congregation as
a gathering in which we encourage one another to share on exactly that level and where we have real
life conversations that sound exactly like that. Are you interested?
April 211
TIDINGS
Come for lunch on April 3rd
Share in the
Camaraderie
Following worship on Sun., April 3rd, you are invited
to enjoy a catered lunch in the CE Center and learn all
about “New Beginnings”.
In his letter, the Apostle Paul makes clear God’s call
for Christians to live together in healthy congregations –
understanding who we are and who our neighbor is. We
are to develop faithful, effective and innovative ministry
that shares the Gospel message – the good news of God’s
unconditional love and justice – with a hurting world.
While the message of God’s love remains constant,
ministry today doesn’t look like 1st Century ministry or
even ministry a decade ago! Using the Gospel as the
guide, healthy congregations continually assess and
develop appropriate ministry for their changing context.
Sometimes, once-thriving congregations find themselves
in declining health and need help to discern God’s unique
call again; help to regain vitality or to direct remaining
assets into the ministry channels they determine to be
most appropriate.
General Assembly Mission Council’s Office of
Church Growth is committed to growing healthy,
missional churches in the PCUSA by helping Presbyteries
and congregations pursue their full potential to be and to
share the good news of Jesus Christ in this time and place.
Together with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit,
we hope this assessment helps this partnership in 3 ways.
The 1st intent of this assessment is to help us gain
clarity about a hard decision we need to make in terms of
the use of our assets/resources for mission. The 2nd is to
give our leaders tools for defining a future story in mission
that is true both to historic commitments and relevant for
21st century need. The 3rd is to help us begin to make the
shift from an “attractional” model of ministry (where
people “come to the church” as a place to get their needs
met) to a “missional” model of ministry (where we are
empowered to “go out from the church” to live as
Christian people in the world). New Beginnings is an
assessment tool designed to bring us together using an
assessment and reflection process that helps us be
intentional about discerning God’s call for present and
future mission.
We are one of a number of other Presbyterian
churches in our area involved in this process. We are
seeking information and guidance to help us make
important decisions regarding the future of our church.
We hope to see you April 3rd at 11:30 am!
- The New Beginnings Task Force
Our Board of Deacons would appreciate the
congregation's help in hosting one of the coffee/social
hours after our Sunday services during the months of May
and June. A sign-up sheet will be available in church
starting the first Sunday in April.
We hope you will use this volunteer time as a time to
enrich your personal outreach to our congregation. The
time can be very rewarding as you get to meet and greet
your church family.
One of our Deacons, Beth Calnon, has volunteered to
be available for any questions or advice you might need in
this endeavor. Don’t hesitate to talk with her. The task
can be kept simple and the responsibility shared. Why not
team up with a friend?
We hope you will be able to volunteer your time.
Board of Deacons
Bea Boak
Beth Calnon
Helen Decker*
Elizabeth Hayes
Marge Calkins, Moderator
Matt McGivney
Peggy Suddaby
Lillian Olsen
Anthonia Todd
Marty Pond Nancy van den Heever
Joanne Rodriguez
Barb Winegard
Esther Rounds
* Honorary Deacon
Friday Lenten Services*
at First United Methodist church chapel – 12:05 pm
with lunch at 12:30 pm
sponsored by Church Women United
& Baldwinsville Ministerial Association
(W) leading worship
(L) providing lunch
4/1
(W) Rev. Paul Dreher-Wiberg
Plainville Christian Church
(L) Grace Episcopal Church
4/8
(W) Rev. Lawrence Lundgren
First United Methodist Church
(L) First United Methodist Church
4/15** (W) Rev. Joseph McGarry
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
(L) Little Utica Methodist Church and
Plainville Christian Church
4/22 GOOD FRIDAY service 12n (no lunch served)
location – First Presbyterian Church
Liz Bowers, Marge Calkins,
Mark Chamberlin, Jean Harshaw,
Victor Jenkins, Luella Oakes, Rush Pond,
Anthonia Todd, Kevin Todd, Al Winegard
* Each week there will be a container to receive canned
goods, paper, or soap products for the Food Pantry.
** Bakeless Bread Sale. All donations go to local Meals
Wheels Programs & Food Pantry.
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April 211
TIDINGS
Christian Education
Janne Murphy, CE Coordinator
April Birthdays
On Sat., March 12th, several children
in the 3rd-5th grade class visited the
Humane Association on Taft Road to deliver items
collected through their “Helping Paws” mission project.
Laura and Jack Alt, Carolyn Brussel, and Anna Demer
presented the volunteers with a car load of donations
including cat and dog food and treats, pet toys, towels,
blankets, and financial donations that were collected over
several weekends during February and March.
01 – Leesa Alt
19 – Stephen Clark
Dona Todd
Chuck Hunter
03 – Audra Chapman
Breanna Scannell
04 – Barbara Brodie
21 – Andrew Hoover
Margaret Hayes
Jared Massett
Diana Roloff
Anna Mulroy Robbins
07 – Marietta Zuern
Michael Soeder
11 – Candace Edwards
Pearl Thayer (100th !)
13 – Matthew McGivney 22 – Roger Todd
14 – Rheta Jenks
24 – Daniel Rabe
Gail Massett
Margaret Sollish
15 – Heather Crawford
25 – Jason Slaunwhite
Marylyn Jenkins
26 – Jennifer Mills
Emily Mocyk
Roger Pohl
17 – John Sheehan
Esther Rounds
18 – Ellie Lyness
28 – Ralph Cowdery
Sam Mrowka
Ron Stine

April Anniversaries
Daniel & Jodi Sheehan
George & Margaret Sollish
April 10th
April 27th
Nursery School News
Spring has sprung! Can Mother’s Day be far behind?
We’ve got some great gift ideas for mom after this lengthy
winter we’ve left behind. We are planning our
annual plant sale for two weekends in May.
The hanging basket sale will take place Sun.,
May 1st - on the church lawn from 9am-1pm.
David Jenkins will once again be our supplier. In
addition, on Sat., May 21st from 9am-1pm, River’s Edge
Greenhouse will be open for the sale of bedding plants,
hanging baskets, and a variety of flowers in 6 different
greenhouses. All proceeds from this sale go directly to
PNS to help ensure continued support of curriculum and
educational materials for all children enrolled at the
school. While there, please mention that you are part of
the PNS fundraising event, since the greenhouses are also
open to the public that day.
Thank you in advance for your support of
the fundraiser. We hope you will be thrilled
with the variety, size, and color of all the
beautiful flowers offered in the sale.
- Sue Wolken, Director
The mission project was conceived by the children
after studying Amos' message in church school: If you
talk the talk, then walk the walk (Amos 5:21-24). In class,
they also read about 2 young girls from Kansas City, MO
who developed their own mission project.
Leesa Alt helped the children organize and implement
their idea. They made posters, collection boxes and even
presented their project in front of the congregation. The
response was so great and the children had such a good
experience that they have decided to work on developing
more project ideas.
Children at the 3rd-5th grade level are Jack Alt, Laura
Alt, Declan Hawthorne, Sage Mulroy-Robbins, Nolan
Murphy, Ben Rabe, Lilly Salotto, Carolyn Brussel, Anna
Demer, Nathan Durkin, and Erica Snyder.
The children wish to thank all those people who so
generously donated items and money to “Helping Paws.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOOking for more about mission? Kids can check out
presbykids4kids.org designed for older elementary kids,
parents, and church leaders to play games, read exciting
mission stories, and learn ways to get involved and help.
(find more flower sale information on p. 4)
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April 211
TIDINGS
Rule to Remember –
Rummage Sale
Kindness is the language which
the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
April 7, 8, & 9
Our annual rummage sale is just around the corner!
The sale is in the CE Center on Thursday & Friday, April
7th & 8th, from 9 am-6 pm, with a bag sale on April 9th
from 9-11 am. (That’s all you can fit into our bag for $2!)
Proceeds will benefit local charities, worldwide
missions, and the Presbyterian Nursery School.
PNS Flower Sale
LAWN SALE BESIDE THE CHURCH
It’s time again for the annual Presbyterian
Nursery School Flower Sale. The lawn sale of hanging
baskets and a small assortment of bedding plants takes
place on Sun., May 1st from 9 am-1pm. Shop following
worship and pick up a plant just in time for Mother’s Day!
All proceeds from this sale go to the PNS Scholarship
Fund.
 NEXT Blood Drive 
Fri., May 13th, 1-6 pm in the Education Center.
Call 1-800-4543 for an appointment. Contact Jill at
638-0264 to volunteer to help. Walk-ins are welcome.
FUNDRAISER AT THE GREENHOUSE
Remember in your prayers and correspondence,
Please come see all of the wonderful flowers and
plants River’s Edge Greenhouses have to offer! The
colorful array of hanging baskets and bedding plants is
sure to have the flowers just right for you.
River’s Edge Greenhouses are co-owned by David
Jenkins and Dave & Kathy Wohlers. Located down on
the river off Rt. 370 west of Baldwinsville, all proceeds
from this sale go directly to the Presbyterian Nursery
School.
Look in the May Tidings for more sale information
and a flyer. If you have questions, please call Sue at
635-7391. All of us at PNS thank you for your support!
since our last newsletter
ILLNESS / INJURY / SURGERY –
Doug Church, Bill Cooper, Joyce Crego,
Miner Crego, Nina Crego, Jane Dickson,
Bud Faulkingham, Jane Hale, Vince Keckison,
Jerry Kranz, Carole Olsen, John Roloff, Dorothy Uhrig,
Marietta Zuern
GRIEVING –
Roy Kingsley & Family, upon the death of his son-in-law
Glenn Drinkwater
PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING RELATIVES
& FRIENDS OF MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION:
One Great Hour of Sharing
Christopher Bradshaw, Joseph Burkhart,
Mary Ellen Brzozowski, Virginia Bullis,
Joseph Cefaliello, Celinda Crego, Caleb Doran,
Diana & Jennifer Dunn, Amy Ellingworth,
Sean Ferguson, Brenda Fulton, Michelle Getaz,
Joanne Henderson, Lorna Keech, Robert Keech,
Jack Le Porte, Grace Lord, Amy Moore, Kali Mordaunt,
Joanne Mozur, Ryan Murdock, Kelly Nolan,
Gary Suddaby, Kelley Walrath, Florence Zeggert,
James Zeggert Jr & Sr, Florence Zimmermann
Sharing resources, changing lives
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined
with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour
of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing
need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response,
refugee assistance and resettlement, and community
development that help people find safe refuge, start new
lives and work together to strengthen their families and
communities. We respond with gifts that help our sisters
and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter
future.
The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36% of
undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while the
Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance each receive 32 %. We dedicate this offering
on Easter Sunday. A OGHS envelope is included in this
newsletter and will be available in the church sanctuary
Easter morning.
SERVING IN THE MILITARY:
Jonathan Bullis, Jim Burns, Ethan Derr, David Edmonds,
Christopher Frost, Lt. Adam Fullerton,
Lt. Patrick Fullerton, Noah Keib
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April 211
TIDINGS
Drive Thru 3/10 … wow!
This year’s Corned Beef and Cabbage Drive Thru was
a whopping success! After serving 501 meals to 203 cars,
we ran out of corned beef a half hour before closing time
and had to turn away many disappointed customers.
Much of the time, traffic was lined up on Elizabeth
Street and around the corner onto Virginia Street almost to
the high school. We have received numerous
compliments on the food and the drive-thru concept!
The event has grown to be a huge undertaking. It
would not be possible without the hard work of the many
volunteers who distributed flyers, handled publicity, baked
cakes, frosted and packaged the cakes, donated frosting
and sandwich bags, picked up groceries, peeled carrots,
scrubbed potatoes, cut cabbage, cooked endless quantities
of meat and vegetables, trimmed and sliced meat, stuffed
bread into sandwich bags, worked on the assembly line,
braved the cold and rain to take orders and direct traffic,
delivered meals to cars, and cleaned the disastrous
kitchen!
We will need even more help next year, so, rest up for
the 2012 Drive Thru on March 15th! And remember to
save those large shopping bags!
- Barb Winegard
Thank you to all who responded to last month’s
Session Elders
“Any extra?” article with paper clips, rubber bands, note
pads, etc. Special thanks to Sheila R., Rheta J.,
Mary H., and Lois R. 
Harry Boak
Barry Bullis
Jean Harshaw
 FROM THE MAILBOX 
George Le Porte, Clerk
Victor Jenkins
Jeanne Le Porte
Luella Oakes
Rush Pond
Kevin Todd
Al Winegard
Maundy Thursday
7 pm worship in sanctuary
with communion
Thank you to all who attended my birthday party and
sent cards and well wishes upon the celebration of my 90th
birthday. I much appreciated the beautiful cards I
received and your being with me to enjoy the day.
- Sherley Matteson
Good Friday
12 noon community worship
in sanctuary
Softball Season Begins !
Church Staff
Pastor -----------------------------The Rev. Stuart D. Hayes
CE Coordinator--------------------------------Janne Murphy
Church Secretary------------------------------Nancy Landon
Clerk of Session ----------------------------George Le Porte
Deacon Moderator -------------------------Marjorie Calkins
Director of Music & Choirs --------------------Rheta Jenks
Organist-------------------------------------------Julie Grindle
Financial Secretary --------------------------Nancy Dobbins
Treasurer----------------------------------------Diana Anastas
PWC Moderator--------------------------- Elizabeth Bowers
Nursery School Director-------------------------Sue Wolken
The Greater Baldwinsville Co-ed Softball League
begins their schedule of games the first Saturday in May –
May 7th. If you wish to participate and have not been
approached, speak with Stuart Hayes. If
you wish to be a spectator, stop by Lysander
Park on Saturday mornings to cheer on our
team. We will post the schedule as soon as
it is finalized.
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April 211
TIDINGS
How to Know When You’re Growing Older
Mother-Child Banquet
Save the date – May 2nd, 2011
Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurl, doesn’t
work.
The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your
bifocals.
You feel like the night before and you haven’t
been anywhere.
Your little black book contains only names ending
in M.D.
You get winded playing chess.
Your children begin to look middle-aged.
You finally reach the top of the ladder,
and find it leaning against the wrong wall.
You join a health club and don’t go.
You begin to outlive enthusiasm.
You decide to procrastinate, but never get around
to it.
You’re still chasing women, but can’t remember
why.
Your mind makes contacts your body can’t meet.
You know all the answers, but nobody asks you
the questions.
You look forward to a dull evening.
You walk with your head held high trying to get
used to your bifocals.
Your favorite part of the newspaper is “Twentyfive Years Ago Today.”
You turn out the light for economic reasons rather
than romantic.
You sit in a rocking chair and can’t make it go.
Your knees buckle and your belt won’t.
You regret all those mistakes resisting temptation.
You stop looking forward to your next birthday.
Dialing long distance wears you out.
Your pacemaker makes the garage door go up
when you watch a pretty girl go by.
You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay
there.
You have too much room in the house and not
enough in the medicine cabinet.
A fortune teller offers to read your face.
The little gray-haired lady you help across the
street is your wife.
Our Mother-Child dinner will be held on
May 2nd at 6:30 pm with a program to follow the meal.
We have not yet confirmed the program, but rest assured
we are looking for something very interesting.
Ladies, remember that we are ALL daughters!! So,
every woman is welcome. Further details will appear in
the church bulletin.
- Liz Bowers, PWC Moderator
from the
Floral Committee
Spring will be in full bloom as we celebrate Easter
this year! Floral orders (in memory or in honor of family
and friends) may be made using the order form included in
this newsletter and in Sunday bulletins. Order deadline
for Easter flowers is 12 noon on Monday, April 18th.
Do you have an interest in flowers? Do you want to
feel the burst of spring? Join Floral Committee members
in decorating the sanctuary at 9:30 am on Sat., April 23rd.
It’s a pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning with other
church members.
Those wishing to place flowers in the sanctuary for a
particular Sunday may check the Floral Calendar in the
Narthex and also contact the chair. As warmer months
arrive, garden flowers are welcome.
The Floral Committee appreciates the
support of the congregation in beautifying
our sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to
participate.
- Marylyn Jenkins, Chair
PWC Circle
is a woman’s group that gathers on the 2nd Monday
each month at 1:00 pm in Room B of the CE Center.
Bible Quest
is a Bible study every Friday morning at 10 am
in Room B of the CE Center.
All women are welcome!
Near the end of each month, a group of
volunteers gather to collate TIDINGS and prepare it
for mailing. If you haven’t recently been and would
like to occasionally be a part of the fun-filled
collating party, just contact the church office. It takes
about 90 minutes to complete the task.
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